i can say, though, john mccain is one of the -- he is serious about all the issues. he is treating this nomination like everything he --s with great seriousness, and i commend him for that. >> we're just learning that at least the associated press and the boston globe both reporting that scott brown will not be running for the seat next toor to you in rhode island. what do you think of that, since he was widely viewed as the biggest challenge to a perspective democrat running for that open seat? of course, the john kerry seat. >> i -- all politics is local. i'm a little surprised, but i -- my reaction would be that he has made a decision. he knows better than anyone what's it like to serve in the senate, what is it like to run for the senate, and you have to thank him for his service and respect his decision. >> and back to the hagel situation and what's going to happen at d.o.d. we've been talking here about how his performance, assuming that he does get confirmed, does that weaken him going into the pentagon where there are a lot of sharks ready to attack? >> no, a